Method and apparatus for visualizing a quantity of a material used in a physical object having a plurality of physical elements

ABSTRACT

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture for illustrating progress in achieving a goal of a system modeled by a computer program. In one embodiment, the invention is evidenced by a method comprising the steps of displaying a widget wherein the widget comprises a center portion representing a category of data represented by the computer program and the category of data includes n data points that must be fulfilled to achieve the goal and an outer portion, comprising a segment representing each one of the n data points; and updating the widget to represent each of the n data points that has been fulfilled by delineating each segment representing a fulfilled data point requirement from each segment representing a non-fulfilled data point requirement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to systems and methods for providinginformation to users of computer programs, and in particular to a methodand apparatus for visualizing a quantity of material used in a physicalobject modeled on a computer.

2. Description of the Related Art

Computer programs have long been used to assist users in the completionof a wide variety of projects. Examples of such computer programsinclude computer-aided design (CAD) and computer aided manufacture (CAM)programs. Typically, the use of such programs involves a complex seriesof user commands to define or select system parameters that are used inthe design. Often times, the goal of the design process is to define asystem that maximizes (or minimizes) certain criteria based on theselection of design parameters. Such parameters may be defined by theuser or imposed upon the user by regulatory agencies or customers. Oneexample of a design process subject to maximizing criteria based uponthe selection of design parameters is the use of CAD/CAM software todesign a building that will comply with Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design (LEED) requirements. Buildings can be LEEDcertified, providing an independent, third party verification that abuilding project is environmentally responsible, profitable and healthyplace to live and work. LEED certification requirements are publiclyavailable from the U.S. Green Building Council at http://www.usgbc.org/,which is incorporated by reference herein.

By their very nature, design projects associated with buildings can beenormously complex. Large and complex physical objects such as buildingscan easily comprise hundreds of thousands of elements. While it is oftenthe case that different materials are used for different objects, it isalso the case that many of these elements may be fashioned from the samematerial as other elements. For example, concrete is a commonconstruction material that is put to a wide variety of different elementtypes.

To achieve LEED certification, it is often required that particularelements of a building design be constructed with material of aparticular composition or legacy. For example, the material may beeither made from a material that is recyclable, or from a material thatalready has been recycled.

Currently, to determine which portions of a building are manufactured ofa particular material, the user must select or multiple select portionsof the model (typically by clicking on portions of the model) andrequest the desired information. The problem is that this can be alengthy and arduous task when a particular material is used to constructa large number of elements. Concrete, for example, is a common buildingmaterial, and selecting each and every element made of concrete would bea difficult task. What is needed is a system and method that provides aconvenient view of how much of a given building model is composed of aparticular building material. The present invention satisfies that need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To address the requirements described above, the present inventiondiscloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture forvisualizing a quantity of a material used in a physical object having aplurality of physical elements. In one embodiment, the method isevidenced by the steps of displaying a visual representation of a modelof the physical object and a display feature associated with at leastone of the physical elements of the object on a display coupled to acomputer, wherein the display feature is displayed concurrently with thevisual representation, accepting a selection of the display feature inthe computer from the user, filtering the model according to theselected display feature to highlight the physical element of the objectassociated with the selected display feature and displaying a visualrepresentation of the filtered model. In another embodiment, the presentinvention is evidence by apparatus is evidenced by a means forperforming the above steps. In yet another embodiment, the invention isevidenced by a computer system having a processor and a memory coupledto the processor, the memory storing one or more instructions forperforming a computer program modeling the physical object and forpresenting the visualized quantity of material used in the physicalobject, wherein the instructions comprise instructions for performingthe above steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers representcorresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary computer system that couldbe used to implement the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of illustrative method steps that can be used topractice one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram presenting an exemplary user interface to a computerprogram that may be used to model the physical object and to visualizethe quantity of a material used in the physical object;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the user interfaceafter the entry of preliminary information;

FIG. 5 is a diagram presenting an illustrative embodiment of a datacategory user interface;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an illustrative example of the data category userinterface following selection of a feature;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of the userinterface after model is filtered according to the selected feature;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the userinterface after an element is selected to specify a material;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the result ofapplying a selected element composition to the visual representation ofthe physical model;

FIG. 10 is a diagram presenting another exemplary embodiment of how theuser may filter the model to highlight a selected physical element ofthe object;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart presenting exemplary steps that can be used toselect the element of interest; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a user interface that might bepresented after selection of the structure element or set of elements byselecting control region of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanyingdrawings which form a part hereof, and which is shown, by way ofillustration, several embodiments of the present invention. It isunderstood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Hardware Environment

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computer system 100 that could be usedto implement the present invention. The computer 102 comprises aprocessor 104 and a memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 106. Thecomputer 102 is operatively coupled to a display 122, which presentsimages such as windows to the user on a graphical user interface 118B.The computer 102 may be coupled to other devices, such as a keyboard114, a mouse device 116, a printer, etc. Of course, those skilled in theart will recognize that any combination of the above components, or anynumber of different components, peripherals, and other devices, may beused with the computer 102.

Generally, the computer 102 operates under control of an operatingsystem 108 stored in the memory 106, and interfaces with the user toaccept inputs and commands and to present results through a graphicaluser interface (GUI) module 118A. Although the GUI module 118A isdepicted as a separate module, the instructions performing the GUIfunctions can be resident or distributed in the operating system 108,the computer program 110, or implemented with special purpose memory andprocessors. The computer 102 also implements a compiler 112 which allowsan application program 110 written in a programming language such asCOBOL, C++, FORTRAN, or other language to be translated into processor104 readable code. After completion, the application 110 accesses andmanipulates data stored in the memory 106 of the computer 102 using therelationships and logic that was generated using the compiler 112. Thecomputer 102 also optionally comprises an external communication devicesuch as a modem, satellite link, Ethernet card, or other device forcommunicating with other computers.

In one embodiment, instructions implementing the operating system 108,the computer program 110, and the compiler 112 are tangibly embodied ina computer-readable medium, e.g., data storage device 120, which couldinclude one or more fixed or removable data storage devices, such as azip drive, floppy disc drive 124, hard drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive,etc. Further, the operating system 108 and the computer program 110 arecomprised of instructions which, when read and executed by the computer102, causes the computer 102 to perform the steps necessary to implementand/or use the present invention. Computer program 110 and/or operatinginstructions may also be tangibly embodied in memory 106 and/or datacommunications devices 130, thereby making a computer program product orarticle of manufacture according to the invention. As such, the terms“article of manufacture,” “program storage device” and “computer programproduct” as used herein are intended to encompass a computer programaccessible from any computer readable device or media.

Those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be madeto this configuration without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. For example, those skilled in the art will recognize that anycombination of the above components, or any number of differentcomponents, peripherals, and other devices, may be used with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of illustrative method steps that can be used topractice one embodiment of the invention. A computer program is providedwhich models one or more physical objects, each having a plurality ofphysical elements. For example, the computer program may model abuilding having physical elements such as floors, beams, wall, roofs,windows, doors, fixtures, support structure, and other physicalelements. Each of the physical elements may be a member of one or morehierarchically related sets or subsets of physical elements. Forexample, the “fixtures” element could include subset elements such asplumbing, and subsets of the subset elements such as toilets or sinks.

In block 202, a visual representation of a model of the physical objectis displayed, along with a feature associated with at least one of thephysical elements of the physical object. The model typically comprisesa description of the elements of the physical object (e.g. the size,composition, shape, strength, color) and a functional relationshipbetween that element and the other elements that together form theobject (e.g. how the element is connected to other elements and how theelements relate to one another). For example, a model may describe anI-beam of a particular size, constructed of steel, in a particularlocation, and connected to a crossbeam via rivets and welding.

FIG. 3 is a diagram presenting an exemplary user interface 302 to acomputer program that may be used to model the physical object and tovisualize the quantity of a material used in the physical object. In theillustrated embodiment, the computer program is used to model buildingconstruction and to determine the LEED compliance of the model. The userdefines the model by providing manual user input to the computer program(e.g. via pointer 304) or by providing information available fromexternal sources such as databases. Such input could include, forexample, input regarding the size, number of floors, materialcomposition, and a host of other parameters. In FIG. 3, the user hasinput the facility name, zip code, and the type of space (general officespace).

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the user interface 302 after thebuilding facility name, zip code, and the type of space (general officespace) has been entered. Once the building has been at leastpreliminarily defined, the user interface 302 presents a plurality ofwidgets 400A-400H (hereinafter alternatively referred to as widget(s)400) that provide a means to navigate to data categories such asdifferent building construction characteristics, and also provide anindication of how well the modeled building design achieves the LEEDdesign goals in each of the listed categories. The data presented in thewidgets 400 is determined via execution of algorithms within thecomputer program.

In the illustrated embodiment, eight data categories corresponding toeight widgets 400A-400H are provided. The widgets include an energywidget 400B, a materials widget 400C, an indoor widget 400D, a waterwidget 400E, a site widget 400F, a carbon widget 400G and an innovationwidget 400H. The widgets also include a summary widget 400A, whichpresents a compendium of information from all of the other widgets400B-400H. Selection of the materials widget 400C opens a data categoryuser interface that provides additional information regarding thematerials data category.

FIG. 5 is a diagram presenting an illustrative embodiment of a datacategory user interface 500. The illustrated user interface 500 alsopresents a number of different features, including the widgets 400, andmay, as illustrated, enlarge or otherwise delineate the widget 400associated with the data category currently displayed. For example, inthe illustrated embodiment, the materials widget 400C is enlarged toshow that the currently displayed data category is the materialscategory.

The user interface 500 may be divided into a plurality of portions,including a graphical portion 502A, a rendering portion 502B, and a datapoint portion 502C. The data point portion 502C provides features thatallow the user to input or edit information about the data points thatare members of the data category. In the illustrated embodiment, thedata points are represented by display features that include “MaterialsReuse” percentages of 5% and 10%, “Recycled Content” percentages of 10%and 20%, “Recycled Content” of 20%, “Regional Materials” of 10% and 20%,and “Rapidly Renewable Materials.”

Selection (e.g. via pointer 304) of the feature representing the“Recycled Content” data point causes one or more features such as therecycled materials graphic features 504 to be opened in the graphicalportion 502A. The graphical portion 502A presents graphical informationabout the data category and/or data point (in the illustrated example,building materials).

The materials graphics 504 may include a first graphic feature 504Adescribing the selected data point or the data category. In theillustrated embodiment, the first graphic feature 504A indicates thetotal amount of recycled materials used in the modeled building. A thirdgraphic feature 506 may be presented to allow the user to viewsubcategories of the data point, in the case illustrated, the buildingmaterials used. The user may also drill down to examine the percentageof recycled material used in the an element of the object (e.g. floorsof the building), or in subsets of elements of the object (e.g. concretefloors of the building), or in building materials that are used indifferent elements of the building (e.g. the percentage of recycledconcrete of all concrete used in the building) by selection of one ormore display features. This can be accomplished for example, by use ofthe arrow 558, which opens a pulldown menu with inputs that can be setto different values, or by analogous means.

The rendering portion 502B presents a rendering of the modeled object508. In the illustrated embodiment, the rendering is a 3D rendering, buta 2D rendering may be provided instead. Further, the user may, byselection of appropriate controls, alter the view of the rendering tochange the perspective, or select particular elements for a moredetailed view.

Returning to FIG. 2A, a selection of a feature is accepted from theuser, as shown in block 204.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of an illustrative example of the data category userinterface 500 following selection of a feature. In the illustratedembodiment, the feature is selected by dragging the second graphicfeature 504B representing the percentage of recycled material contentfor the concrete floors from the graphical portion 502A to the renderingportion 502B. The rendering portion 502B of the user interface 500 hasalso has been updated to remove outer structures to that the selectedelement 510 (e.g. the concrete floors) the concrete floors can be moreeasily seen.

Returning again to FIG. 2A, the model is filtered according to theselected feature to highlight the physical element of the objectassociate with the selected feature, and a visual representation of thefiltered model is displayed, as shown in blocks 206-208.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of the userinterface 500 after model is filtered according to the selected feature.Note that the rendering portion 502B is updated to highlight thephysical elements of the object associated with the selected feature. Inthis example, the selected element was concrete, so the object 508 isupdated to highlight the building elements comprised of concrete having20% or more recycled content.

The user may then specify another material for a particular element ofthe object (e.g. the floors). This can be accomplished by moving thepointer 304 over the associated element (in the illustrated example, afloor) in the graphical portion 502A, the rendering portion 502B, or thedata point portion 502C, and selecting the element but other methods maybe used as well.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the userinterface 500 after an element is selected to specify a material. Asillustrated, a materials specification window 802 is opened in the userinterface 500. The user can search different products by specifying therecycled content of the product, the carbon content, and the cost, bymanipulating controls 804-808. The materials specification window 802then provides the results of the search. In the illustrated embodiment,the results include concrete compositions, available from differentsources.

The user can then manipulate the pointer 304 and select the desiredconcrete composition. The filtered model is then updated using theselected concrete composition, and the results presented in the userinterface 500.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the result ofapplying a selected element composition to the visual representation ofthe physical model. In the illustrated example, a different concretecomposition was selected for the floors of the building, and the modelwas updated accordingly. The visual representation in the renderingportion 502 is also updated to highlight the concrete floors. Since thenewly selected concrete composition has a different recycled materialpercentage than the previously selected concrete composition, the secondgraphic feature 504B is updated to reflect the higher percentage ofrecycled content (now approximately 70%). The first graphic feature504A, which illustrates the percentage of recycled materials for theentire object (e.g. the building) is also updated to reflect thedifferent composition.

The operations shown in blocks 204-210 can be repeatedly performed tooptimize the physical object design. For example, different concretecompositions (each possibly associated with different costs) can be usedto arrive at different candidate designs, along with differentcompositions for other elements, the design using achieving the highestrecycled content and the lowest cost can be selected for the proposeddesign.

In the foregoing example, model was filtered by selecting the secondgraphical display feature 504B associated with the element of interest(in this case, the floors) and pulling that feature within the renderingportion 502B of the user interface 500B.

FIG. 10 is a diagram presenting another exemplary embodiment of how theuser may filter the model to highlight a selected physical element ofthe object. In this embodiment, the selected display feature comprises aradar diagram 1000. The radar diagram 1000 can be presented in aseparate window or anywhere in the user interface 500.

The radar diagram 1000 may comprise a graph 1008 having a radial line1006 extending from a center 1010 of the radial diagram 1000 for one ormore of the physical elements of the physical object. A control region1002 is disposed proximate the end of each of the lines. The controlregions 1002 are associated with a physical element of the physicalobject associated with the radial line 1006. For example, the radardiagram 1000 comprises a floors control region 1002A, a doors controlregion 1002E, a windows control region 1002F, a roofs control region1002G and a walls control region 1002H. Control regions 1002 may alsorepresent categories or groups of elements. For example, control region1002B represents components such as (what is a component?) and “all”control region 1002C represents all materials (what is this?).

The radar diagram also includes a data point 1012 on each of the radiallines 1006. Each data point quantifies a parameter associated with thephysical element of the physical object associated with the radial line1006. For example, the data point associated with the floors displayfeature 1002A and floors element shows that about 20% of the floors arecomposed of recycled content. In this embodiment, if the user wishes tofilter the model to highlight the floors, that can be accomplished byselecting the floors control region 1002A with the pointer 304.

The user may also select the element of interest by other means. Forexample, the elements of the object may be a member of one or morehierarchically related sets of physical elements. In such case, the usermay hierarchically isolate the desired physical element from theplurality of elements, then select a feature associated with thathierarchically isolated element to update the model.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart presenting exemplary steps that can be used toselect the element of interest. First, a first set of elements of theobject is displayed, as shown in block 1102. One example of such adisplay is the radar diagram 1000 shown in FIG. 10 (with each controlregion 1002 associated with an element or set of elements). Next, atleast one of the elements is selected, as shown in block 1104, and aplurality of subsets of the first set of elements is displayed, as shownin block 1106.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a user interface 1200 that might bepresented after selection of the structure element or set of elements1202 by selecting control region 1002D of FIG. 10. The user interface1200 presents a plurality of subsets of the set of physical elementsrelating to the structure element set 1202. These include a skeletalsubset 1204 (which includes beams), a peripheral subset 1206 (whichincludes outside walls, and a roof) and an internal subset 1208 (whichincludes internal walls, ceilings, floors, and stairways).

Next, a selection of at least one of the subsets of the plurality ofsubsets of the first set of elements is accepted, as shown in block1108. This can be accomplished, in the illustrated example of FIG. 12,by selecting either “skeletal” or beams. A second plurality of physicalelements that are members of the subset of physical elements is thendisplayed, as shown in block 1110, and a selection of a featureassociated with at least one of the physical elements of the object isaccepted, as shown in block 1112.

In the illustrated example of FIG. 12, vertical, horizontal, and crossbeam physical elements/element sets 1210 are displayed. A selection ofone of these elements can be made, thus hierarchically isolating theelements from the other elements of the object. For example, if the userwere to select vertical beams, the vertical beam elements of thebuilding would be selected as the element of interest. Following thisstep, the user interface 500 is updated to provide a feature that theuser can use to highlight the physical object of interest. For example,if the user had selected vertical beams as the element of interest,information regarding the recycled composition of the vertical beams maybe presented in graphical portion 502A, and the user may then move thegraphic representing this information to the rendering portion 502B tocommand the computer program to filter the model to show vertical beams.Alternatively, the radar diagram may be updated such that the“structure” control region 1002D becomes a “vertical beam” controlregion, and selecting the vertical beam control region commands thedesired filtering and display.

CONCLUSION

This concludes the description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention. The foregoing description of the preferred embodimentof the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intendedthat the scope of the invention be limited not by this detaileddescription, but rather by the claims appended hereto. The abovespecification, examples and data provide a complete description of themanufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since manyembodiments of the invention can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claimshereinafter appended.

1. A method for visualizing a quantity of a material used in a physicalobject having a plurality of physical elements, comprising the steps of:(a) displaying a visual representation of a model of the physical objectand a display feature associated with at least one of the physicalelements of the object on a display coupled to a computer, wherein thedisplay feature is displayed concurrently with the visualrepresentation; (b) accepting a selection of the display feature in thecomputer from the user; (c) filtering the model according to theselected display feature to highlight the physical element of the objectassociated with the selected display feature; and (d) displaying avisual representation of the filtered model.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the display feature is a graphical display feature.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein: the display feature comprises a radardiagram comprising: a graph having a radial line extending from a centerof the radar diagram for at least some of the physical elements of thephysical object; a data point on each of the radial lines, each datapoint quantifying a parameter associated with the physical element ofthe physical object associated with the radial line; a control region atthe end of each of the radial lines, each control region associated withthe physical element of the of the physical object associated with theradial line; and the step of accepting a selection of the displayfeature comprises the step of selecting the control region associatedwith a physical element of interest to the user.
 4. The method of claim1, further comprising the step of: repeatedly performing steps (b)-(d)to optimize a design of the physical object.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the step of accepting a selection of the display featurecomprises the step of: moving the display feature to a locationproximate of the visual representation of the model of the physicalobject.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality ofphysical elements of the object is a member of one or morehierarchically related sets of physical elements; the step of acceptinga selection of the display feature in the computer from the usercomprises the steps of: hierarchically isolating the at least one of thephysical elements from the plurality of physical elements; displayingthe display feature, wherein the display feature is associated with thehierarchically isolated physical element.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein: the plurality of physical elements comprise a first set ofphysical elements having a plurality of subsets of physical elements;the step of hierarchically isolating the at least one of the physicalelements from the plurality of physical elements comprises the steps of:displaying the first set of physical elements; accepting a selection ofthe first set of physical elements; displaying the plurality of subsetsof the first set of physical elements; accepting a selection of at leastone subset of the plurality of subsets of the first set of physicalelements; displaying a second plurality of physical elements that aremembers of the subset of physical elements, the second plurality ofphysical elements including the at least one of the physical elements ofthe object; and accepting a selection of the display feature associatedwith the at least one of the physical elements of the object.
 8. Anapparatus for visualizing a quantity of a material used in a physicalobject having a plurality of physical elements, comprising: means fordisplaying a visual representation of a model of the physical object anda display feature associated with at least one of the physical elementsof the object on a display coupled to a computer, wherein the displayfeature is displayed concurrently with the visual representation; meansfor accepting a selection of the display feature in the computer fromthe user; means for filtering the model according to the selecteddisplay feature to highlight the physical element of the objectassociated with the selected display feature; and means for displaying avisual representation of the filtered model.
 9. The apparatus of claim8, wherein the display feature is a graphical display feature.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein: the display feature comprises a radardiagram comprising: a graph having a radial line extending from a centerof the radar diagram for at least some of the physical elements of thephysical object; a data point on each of the radial lines, each datapoint quantifying a parameter associated with the physical element ofthe physical object associated with the radial line; a control region atthe end of each of the radial lines, each control region associated withthe physical element of the of the physical object associated with theradial line; and the means for accepting a selection of the displayfeature comprises the step of selecting the control region associatedwith a physical element of interest to the user.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the means for accepting a selection of the displayfeature comprises means for moving the display feature to a locationproximate of the visual representation of the model of the physicalobject.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: each of the plurality ofphysical elements of the object is a member of one or morehierarchically related sets of physical elements; the means foraccepting a selection of the display feature in the computer from theuser comprises: means for hierarchically isolating the at least one ofthe physical elements from the plurality of physical elements; means fordisplaying the display feature, wherein the display feature isassociated with the hierarchically isolated physical element.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein: the plurality of physical elementscomprise a first set of physical elements having a plurality of subsetsof physical elements; the means for hierarchically isolating the atleast one of the physical elements from the plurality of physicalelements comprises: means for displaying the first set of physicalelements; means for accepting a selection of the first set of physicalelements; means for displaying the plurality of subsets of the first setof physical elements; means for accepting a selection of at least onesubset of the plurality of subsets of the first set of physicalelements; means for displaying a second plurality of physical elementsthat are members of the subset of physical elements, the secondplurality of physical elements including the at least one of thephysical elements of the object; and means for accepting a selection ofthe display feature associated with the at least one of the physicalelements of the object.
 14. A computer system for visualizing a quantityof a material used in a physical object having a plurality of physicalelements, comprising: a processor and a memory coupled to the processor,the memory storing one or more instructions for performing a computerprogram modeling the physical object and for presenting the visualizedquantity of material used in the physical object, wherein theinstructions comprise instructions for performing steps comprising thesteps of: displaying a visual representation of a model of the physicalobject and a display feature associated with at least one of thephysical elements of the object on a display coupled to a computer,wherein the display feature is displayed concurrently with the visualrepresentation; accepting a selection of the display feature in thecomputer from the user; filtering the model according to the selecteddisplay feature to highlight the physical element of the objectassociated with the selected display feature; and displaying a visualrepresentation of the filtered model.
 15. The computer system of claim14, wherein the display feature is a graphical display feature.
 16. Thecomputer system of claim 15, wherein: the display feature comprises aradar diagram comprising: a graph having a radial line extending from acenter of the radar diagram for at least some of the physical elementsof the physical object; a data point on each of the radial lines, eachdata point quantifying a parameter associated with the physical elementof the physical object associated with the radial line; a control regionat the end of each of the radial lines, each control region associatedwith the physical element of the of the physical object associated withthe radial line; and the step of accepting a selection of the displayfeature comprises the step of selecting the control region associatedwith a physical element of interest to the user.
 17. The computer systemof claim 14, wherein the step of accepting a selection of the displayfeature comprises the step of: moving the display feature to a locationproximate of the visual representation of the model of the physicalobject.
 18. The computer system of claim 14, wherein: each of theplurality of physical elements of the object is a member of one or morehierarchically related sets of physical elements; and the step ofaccepting a selection of the display feature in the computer from theuser comprises the steps of: hierarchically isolating the at least oneof the physical elements from the plurality of physical elements;displaying the display feature, wherein the display feature isassociated with the hierarchically isolated physical element.
 19. Thecomputer system of claim 6, wherein: the plurality of physical elementscomprise a first set of physical elements having a plurality of subsetsof physical elements; the step of hierarchically isolating the at leastone of the physical elements from the plurality of physical elementscomprises the steps of: displaying the first set of physical elements;accepting a selection of the first set of physical elements; displayingthe plurality of subsets of the first set of physical elements;accepting a selection of at least one subset of the plurality of subsetsof the first set of physical elements; displaying a second plurality ofphysical elements that are members of the subset of physical elements,the second plurality of physical elements including the at least one ofthe physical elements of the object; and accepting a selection of thedisplay feature associated with the at least one of the physicalelements of the object.